Robert Keith Dibble (born January 24, 1964) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher and television analyst. Between 1988 and 1995, Dibble played for the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers. He was a two-time All-Star who recorded 89 saves during his career. Since retiring as a player, Dibble has held several roles in sports television broadcasting.
Dibble was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the first round of the 1983 amateur draft, and he made his debut with the Reds on June 29, 1988.
On June 4, 1989, Dibble threw an immaculate inning when he struck out all three batters on nine total pitches, occurring in the eighth inning of a 5–3 win over the San Diego Padres.[1] During his career, Dibble was known for his temper. During a game in July 1989, he hit Mets second basemen Tim Teufel in the back with a pitch; Teufel then charged Dibble, causing a bench-clearing brawl.
After saving a game in April 1991 despite giving up two runs in relief, Dibble threw a baseball 400 feet into the center-field seats at Cincinnati, inadvertently striking a woman.[2][3][4] He was also involved in a brawl in 1991 with Astros shortstop Eric Yelding.[3][5] Later in the 1991 season, he threw a baseball into the back of Cubs outfielder Doug Dascenzo as he ran down the first base line and was subsequently ejected from the game.[6]
On June 23, 1992, Dibble recorded his 500th career strikeout in fewer innings—368—than any other pitcher in modern baseball history up to that point (Aroldis Chapman later passed him).[7] After a September 18 game saw the Reds win without needing Dibble on the mound, the post-game interview of team manager Lou Piniella led to a scuffle when Dibble disagreed with Piniella's assessment that Dibble wasn't used because of a "bad shoulder". The two shoved each other in front of cameras that saw both of them have to visit team owner Marge Schott and management to go with an apology.[8][9]
Dibble, seeing the trade of co-closer Norm Charlton to Seattle in a move that essentially anointed Dibble as their primary closer, stated his desire to turn a new leaf with two goals for 1993: save 40 games and do something about his reputation.[10] On April 21, he broke his left forearm during a game and was projected to miss six weeks. He returned in late May but had a 6.48 ERA in 45 games that saw him collect 19 saves.[11][12] In April of 1994, Dibble required surgery for a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. It was speculated at the time that he would miss three months but he ended up missing the entire season.[13][14] Dibble signed with the Chicago White Sox. They unsuccessfully tried to trade him in spring training so they sent him to their AAA team at Birmingham Al. where he went 0–2 in 11 games. He then pitched 16 games for the White Sox and after being released he was picked up by the Milwaukee Brewers where he pitched in 15 more games. His combined MLB 1995 record was 1–2 with a 7.18 ERA with 46 batters walked in 21 innings.[15]
Dibble opted to make a comeback, signing a minor league contract on April 14, 1996, with the Florida Marlins but Dibble would ultimately see no game action with the Marlins or their minor league affiliates.[16][17]
Broadcasting career
Dibble with the Nationals in 2009.
In 1998, Dibble joined ESPN as a baseball analyst, working mostly on Dan Patrick's radio show. He worked on The Best Damn Sports Show Period as a co-host until 2008, when he left to join FOX on their Saturday baseball program as an analyst. Dibble also spends time as a co-host/analyst of First Pitch on XM Channel 175/Sirius channel 210. He formerly hosted The Show (on the same channel) with Jody McDonald. Dibble served as co-analyst (with Kevin Kennedy) for FOXSports.com on a weekly video segment entitled "Around the Bases." Dibble also is a co-host with former Major League player Denny Hocking on Fox Sports Radio Sunday night programming. In 2009, Dibble signed a three-year contract to replace Don Sutton as the color voice of the Washington Nationals on MASN.[18]
While broadcasting a game in August 2010, Dibble drew negative attention for focusing on a group of female spectators in the Nationals crowd, and questioning their focus on the game.[19][20] He later apologized for the comments.[21] Later in the month, Dibble criticized Nationals rookie pitcher Stephen Strasburg for missing a start due to an injury: "Suck it up, kid. This is your profession. You chose to be a baseball player. You can't have the cavalry come in and save your butt every time you feel a little stiff shoulder, sore elbow."[21][22] It was revealed shortly afterward that Strasburg had torn an elbow ligament and required Tommy John surgery.[23][24] Dibble took a few days off from MASN after making the comments, and on September 1, 2010, MASN announced that Dibble would no longer be calling Nationals games.[25][26][27] After losing his job with the Nationals, Dibble apologized for the Strasburg comments on his radio show.[28]
In April 2011, Dibble said in an interview on FoxSports.com that the reason for his dismissal was because of an email Strasburg's father sent to the Lerner Family, the owners of the Nationals.[29] Dibble also continued to express his belief that Strasburg should have pitched through his pain.[30][31] Strasburg denied the claim about his father's e-mail, and Stan Kasten, the president of the Nationals, called Dibble's account "fictional" and "sad".[31][32] As of October 31, 2011, Dibble became a member of Mike North's talk radio show.
On March 27, 2014, Dibble became the host of the 3–7 pm (Eastern) sports talk show on WUCS 97.9 FM and WAVZ 1300 AM in the ESPN stations in Hartford and New Haven, Connecticut respectively. He joined interim host Paul Nanos who filled in when Mike Bower's contract was not renewed. Up until the end of October the show was billed as The Rob Dibble Show with Paul Nanos. In October, the show was renamed The Rob Dibble Show.[36]
